Sandpoint Missionary Blog

Courage Update February 19, 2020     How is 2020 going for all of you? As I’ve been praying for Christians in China and Burkina Faso lately who are courageously living out their faith, I’ve been thinking of how all of us need a  lot of courage to live for Jesus in this dark world. I’ve been blessed to visit with some of our former Candelero Kids these past 2 months and I’ll start this update talking about them.     Roberto went to the YWAM Home outside of Santa Cruz in 2009 after coming to our Support Center for a year. In January, he told me that he is so thankful to God for Candelero Kids and YWAM. “Where would I be if I didn’t know the Lord and have the help you all offered me?”, he said. He is studying engineering in Santa Cruz but goes to the Home 3 times a month to visit and encourage the boys there to persevere and not give in to going back to the street. It was so neat to visit with him when he came to Tarija. Marcial took big steps of ...

Traveling Are you ready to go back? Many people have asked us that. My response is: I don't think we would ever be fully ready. It reminds me of jumping off a cliff into a lake. You stand there on the edge, cringing because you know the sinking feeling of freefalling and the sting of hitting the water. I am never ready to jump off. But at some point, I just have to force myself to step off the edge. All of our flights were on time, our baggage made it, and we had no problems with customs. However, David got the stomach flu the night before we left and his stomach bothered him most of the day. Then I got it too. Now we are waiting to see who is the next lucky victim. On the same day we were flying, our co-worker, Ed, went into the village. Then later that afternoon, a friend from another community was bitten by a snake, so Ed took him to town for treatment.   Adjusting So now we have a week to shop for some things here in Manaus, send a few volumes by barge, th...

When It Rains It Pours For those of you who have spent time in the tropics, you are familiar with the sudden downpour of rain this part of the world gets. The weather changes quickly and can go from sunshine to a dark wall of rain very quickly. It is not only the weather which changes quickly, but life circumstances as well. As soon as the rain comes; however, it goes and the sun shines again. The past several weeks have been the busy season for PMA in Palau, and though we found ourselves few in number, the Lord gave us the strength, endurance, and wisdom to continue with operations. I had mentioned the arrival of a new pilot in my previous newsletter. He and his family have arrived, and they have been a great blessing to the team here. I have been able to share with him what I know of the flying down here, and he has done well and has begun flying on his own. One of our team went on a long awaited vacation to see her family in the Philippines, which led to me being stretched ...

Dear Friends, Matthew 18:21-22 KJV Then came Peter to Him, and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." As hard as it is, we are called to forgive. Sometimes we're not quite ready to forgive someone who's wronged us. We want some time to stew on it, thinking of w3ays we can take revenge, or even hope something bad happens to them. It takes a lot of time and effort to not forgive. Unforgiveness can consume our time and thoughts causing bitterness, anger and rage. Then before we know it, we begin to suck others into it with slander and gossip. Eph 4:31-32 tells us to "get rid of all these feelings, be kind, compassionate and forgive each other just as God in Christ forgave you." When we put things into perspective, God loves the other person you need to forgive just as much as He loves you. That...

Bonner Gospel Mission May, 2019 Newsletter Dear Friends, Luke 24:45-48 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures... Jesus just spent 3 years teaching, mentoring, and being the example of compassion, mercy, and grace with His closest friends, His disciples. He performed miracles that amazed them over and over again. He even gave3 them the power to do miracles. He washed their feet as an example of serving in humility (including Judas, knowing he was about to betray Him). Jesus loved those men. The disciples seemed to be honored to be chosen and taught by him. They even argued about who was the greatest. Even thought they knew Him they just didn't get it. When Jesus needed them the most, to watch and pray they fell asleep. He was betrayed by Judas with a kiss, then the rest of them left Him and fled. Peter even said at one point, along with all the others..., "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." Likewise also said all the disciple...

March 2019 We would be naive to think that our enemy would sit idly by and watch us make progress toward bringing God's light to more people. Until this month, we were happily oblivious to the complaints against us, even though all our neighbors (indigenous and non-indigenous alike) have apparently known for a long time. Ascertaining exactly what the complaints are and who is against us, has proven difficult. It seems to be people from other villages who are jealous of the benefits we have brought to this village. There is also much misinformation that has been propagated, such as us embezzling money that the government intended for them, or that we are growing marijuana. They apparently questioned our presence on indigenous land during some of their big, inter-village meetings, with the presence of some missio-phobic NGOs who need no good excuse to persecute us. Needless to say, that has been on our minds a lot recently. It is common for missionaries to have this type of t...

Hi Everybody, How are you doing? I hope all is well. Thank you so much for taking time to read this update. I hope you enjoy the pictures too. God bless you all as you live for Him. Joyfully His, Heather MacKnee   The pictures:  I found a really cool wall the other day. I think you'll understand why I like it.  In my update I talk about the following: Blanca and her brother, Jesus, and Blanca's baby boy. David has his baby on his shoulders, and Mariela is beside him. One of the last pics I have of Javier, when I was teaching him how to drive my car.  Each restricted contribution designated towards an organization approved program or project will be used as designated with the understanding that when the need for such a program or project has been met, or can’t be completed for any reason determined by the organization, the remaining restricted contributions designated for such programs or projects will be used where needed mos...